Lula’s option for Mantega as the author of the article postpones disputes in the PT for spokesperson in the economy

At the request of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former minister Guido Mantega signed an article published this Tuesday (4th) by the leaf within the series on “economic thoughts of pre-candidates” for the presidency.

According to Lula’s allies, Mantega’s casting is an attempt to rescue a wronged person. In addition to a reparation, Mantega’s reinsertion into the political debate postpones internal disputes over the role of spokesperson for the former president in economic matters, including with the business community.

Before opting for Mantega, Lula discussed with collaborators the possibility of the text being signed by a pair, or trio, of economists, thus removing the idea that he had already chosen a representative for the topic.

The hypothesis of joint writing was, however, discarded to ward off the interpretation that, as it was produced by four hands, it would consolidate a definitive project by Lula.

The text itself has a caveat: “this article does not express the point of view of Lula’s candidacy, which has not yet been launched, being the result of discussions by a group of economists who advise former president Lula”.

Lula’s allies even use the expression rotation to justify Mantega’s signature.

Politically marginalized since leaving Dilma’s government, Mantega is not seen as a threat to his peers. He was Minister of Planning (2003-2004), president of BNDES (2004-2006) and Minister of Finance (2006 to 2014).

He left the portfolio at the height of an economic crisis. PT members debit Mantega’s account for the payroll tax exemption — one of the main targets of Lula’s criticism of the Dilma government.

In September 2016, Mantega was temporarily detained on charges of asking businessman Eike Batista to transfer R$5 million to the PT to pay campaign debts, in November 2012.

He presented himself to the Federal Police at the door of the hospital where he was accompanying his wife’s surgery, who was being treated for cancer. On the same day, the then judge Sérgio Moro revoked the arrest for considering that the former minister did not pose a risk to the Lava Jato investigation. PT members called the operation inhumane.

Since then, Mantega has kept himself out of the spotlight. But he has participated in meetings of economists under the coordination of former minister Aloizio Mercadante, now president of the Perseu Abramo Foundation.

Linked to the PT, the foundation was excluded from the writing of the article, preventing it from being seen as a partisan program. Originally, the text would bring a technical analysis of the economic scenario. But it took the form of a manifesto of opposition to the Bolsonaro government.

“What is at stake in the next elections is whether we will continue with the disastrous economic policy of the Bolsonaro government and other neoliberal candidates, or whether we will resume the path of social-developmentalism towards the welfare state”, he concludes.